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Joanne Kurtzberg

Jerome S. Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics, Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Box 102501, Durham, NC 27710
2400 Pratt Street, DUMC Box 102501, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Kurtzberg is an internationally renowned expert in pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric blood and marrow transplantation, umbilical cord blood banking and transplantation, and novel applications of cord blood and birthing tissues in the emerging fields of cellular therapies and regenerative medicine.   Dr. Kurtzberg serves as the Director of the Marcus Center for Cellular Cures (MC3), Director of the Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, Director of the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, and Co-Director of the Stem Cell Transplant Laboratory at Duke University.  The Carolinas Cord Blood Bank is an FDA licensed public cord blood bank distributing unrelated cord blood units for donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) through the CW Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program.  The Robertson GMP Cell Manufacturing Laboratory supports manufacturing of RETHYMIC (BLA, Enzyvant, 2021), allogeneic cord tissue derived and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and DUOC, a microglial/macrophage cell derived from cord blood.

Dr. Kurtzberg’s research in MC3 focuses on translational studies from bench to bedside, seeking to develop transformative clinical therapies using cells, tissues, molecules, genes, and biomaterials to treat diseases and injuries that currently lack effective treatments. Recent areas of investigation in MC3 include clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of autologous and allogeneic cord blood in children with neonatal brain injury – hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy (CP), and autism. Clinical trials testing allogeneic cord blood are also being conducted in adults with acute ischemic stroke. Clinical trials optimizing manufacturing and testing the safety and efficacy of cord tissue MSCs in children with autism, CP and HIE and adults with COVID-lung disease are underway. DUOC, given intrathecally, is under study in children with leukodystrophies and adults with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

In the past, Dr. Kurtzberg has developed novel chemotherapeutic drugs for acute leukemias, assays enumerating ALDH bright cells to predict cord blood unit potency, methods of cord blood expansion, potency assays for targeted cell and tissue based therapies. Dr. Kurtzberg currently holds several INDs for investigational clinical trials from the FDA.  She has also trained numerous medical students, residents, clinical and post-doctoral fellows over the course of her career.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Jerome S. Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics · 2010 - Present Pediatrics, Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Pediatrics
Professor of Pediatrics · 1994 - Present Pediatrics, Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Pediatrics
Professor of Pathology · 2003 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 1980 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers
Core Faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship · 2018 - Present Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published May 17, 2023
More Options for People With Blood Cancer
Published May 19, 2020
Cord Blood Study Provides Insights on Benefits, Limitations for Autism Treatment
Published May 9, 2018
Duke Launches Marcus Center for Cellular Cures to Tackle Autism, MS, Stroke

View All News

Recent Publications


Donor-specific mesenchymal stem cell infusion in human and nonhuman primate kidney transplantation.

Journal Article Am J Transplant · May 12, 2025 We report the results of 2 independent, concurrently performed studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of donor-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) infusions in inducing immune-tolerance in nonhuman primate (NHP) and human kidney transplant recipient ... Full text Link to item Cite

Cord Blood Treatment for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Journal Article Pediatrics · May 1, 2025 CONTEXT: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a novel treatment for cerebral palsy (CP), with trials indicating UCB can improve gross motor function. However, heterogeneity has limited the ability to interpret findings. OBJECTIVE: Assess the safety and efficacy o ... Full text Link to item Cite

Newborn Screening for Hurler Syndrome Facilitates Early Transplant and Good Outcomes.

Journal Article Pediatr Neurol · February 2025 BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the standard of care treatment for children with Hurler syndrome (HS). This study describes the impact of newborn screening (NBS) on HCT outcomes for these patients. METHODS: Retrospective study of HS ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network

Clinical TrialCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2001 - 2031

Tolerance to Allogeneic Hearts via Implantation of Cultured Donor Thymus

ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2028

HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory, Fifth Cohort

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Health Resources and Service Administration · 2015 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


New York University · 1976 M.D.